The NRL is set to expand betting to all matches throughout its new pre-season competition, but won’t stop coaches from naming expanded squads of up to 30 players and making mass personnel changes during games.

Just days after announcing a two-week summer competition before next year’s regular season, sources familiar with the situation have said the code flagged its intention to open up wagering on every trial game in a notice to bookmakers this week.

While the traditional All-Stars game and Charity Shield between the Rabbitohs and Dragons have previously offered betting markets, the NRL is intent on building a legitimate pre-season challenge competition from 2023.

It will include all 17 teams plus Super League champions St Helens, who will play St George Illawarra in a trial before taking on NRL premiers Penrith in the revived World Club Challenge. The tournament is set to be played for prize money, but the format is yet to be announced.

But the NRL’s plan to commercialise the pre-season is expected to include wagering, despite the matches traditionally being used as an opportunity to experiment with fringe players.

The Eels named 30 players alone for their trial win over the Panthers earlier this year and coaches will be reluctant to deviate from previous formulas designed build match fitness and manage injury risk.

All matches in the pre-season challenge will be played in different timeslots across the two weeks allowing broadcaster Foxtel to show each game live.

While they are intent on opening up betting on pre-season matches, the NRL has rejected a proposal from three major bookmakers to expand wagering to fantasy-inspired markets which include how many run metres, tackles or try assists a player might have in a game.